654 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



cultural club movement by the schools on the one hand and the regular 

 farmers' institute for adults on the other. 



METHOD OP INSTRUCTION. 



The method best adapted to giving vocational information is still to a 

 great extent unknown, and can only be discovered through the careful 

 study of rural conditions and of the characteristics of rural youth and 

 of their relation to country life. That an effective method ought to be 

 had is now evident to all. When it will be had will depend upon the 

 seriousness with which the whole matter of the vocational training of 

 country youth is regarded by those who are in position to provide it. 



The fact that- there can be no physical compulsion exerted in bringing 

 those who are to be reached to attend upon any course of teaching makes 

 it necessary to employ other methods for securing their attendance and 

 attention. There are at least two characteristics in the rural youth that 

 can be depended upon to respond to proper appeal — ambition and love 

 of gain. With respect to the first, young people are naturally interested 

 in a subject or exercise when presented in the form of a contest. Their 

 plays for the most part are of this nature. When properly planned and 

 conducted such exercises not only interest young people, but they possess 

 in addition features of great practical and educational value. They stim- 

 ulate the creative faculties of the contestants, teach the relation between 

 cause and effect, develop power and desire to do things, show how to apply 

 previous knowledge derived from books or school to solving the problems 

 of life, and by keeping the mind occupied with useful purposes they stim- 

 ulate to further and more determined effort. 



The contest method, therefore, has wisely been adopted by the institute 

 for awakening interest and creating enthusiasm among young people in 

 agricultural operations. In this direction lie great possibilities. To fully 

 realize these possibilities and benefit by them the institute should study 

 to dscover additional subjects suitable for competitions, and of value in 

 the improvement of rural affairs. The number of such subjects in use 

 at present is extremely limited, being confined, in crops, almost wholly 

 to corn; in animal husbandry; to stock judging; and in domestic science, 

 to the preparation of a few of the simpler articles of food. Exercises 

 of this nature should be extended to other lines of rural activity, and be 

 utilized by the institute for instructing in a much wider range of agri- 

 cultural operations. 



SUBJECTS FOR INSTITUTE STUDY. 



The subjects that can be successfully studied in institutes for young 

 people cover a wide range and may ultimately include the entire field of 

 rural life. Since the institute is dealing with boys and girls who for 

 the most part are without much experience, and while the subjects 

 studied must be treated in a way to be intelligible to them, yet it by no 

 means follows that because the pupils are not of full age the teaching 



